Polishing machine



March 9, 1937.

C. B. STAIR POLISHING IACQINE Filed Jan. 9, 71935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wrgzeflsw M March 9, 1937.

c. B. STAIR POLISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1935 's suits-sheet 2 lhverdor. avg/l6 3 5w Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in polishing machines and more specifically, coin-controlled, semi-automatic shoe polishing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine such that the user. may, by depositing the appropriate coin therein, obtain access to a supply of shoe paste or other material for manually applying the same to the shoes and then, by relocking or closing oi the paste supply to prevent further unauthorized use thereof, automatically start in motion for a predetermined length of time, a rotatable polishing brush which the user may conveniently manipulate so as to impart the desired polish to his shoes to which the paste has previously been applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph wherein the accessible supply of paste for daubing may be augmented as required from time to time by the user but only after the appropriate coin has been deposited and the paste supply made accessible.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the character indicated, means rendering the paste or polish accessible only when the polishing brush is inoperative, and vice versa, the paste supply inaccessible while the brush is operative.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated wherein the supply of paste may be readily renewed from time to time and the repair or adjustment of any of the operative parts facilitated by so constructing the machine that the operative parts most likely to require attention, may be removed from the housing of the machine as a unit and a new unit temporarily substituted therefor.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine of the character indicated which will be simple in construction, eiiicient in operation, comprised of relatively few parts inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, wherein the user may polish all parts of his shoes as effectively and more rapidly than would be possible by hand; and wherein the machine requires a minimum of servicing. 7

Other objects of the invention will more clear- 1y appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciflcation, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine. Figure 2 is a rear end elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, the panel of the rear wall of the housing being removed to show the parts on the interior of the housing.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, upon an enlarged scale, corresponding to the line 3'-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view corresponding to the line 44 of Figure 1 upon an enlarged scale. Figure 5 is a horizontal 5 sectional view corresponding to the line 5-5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a part elevational view, part sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 66 of Figure -8. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but illustrating a different 10 condition of the parts. Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 8- -8 of Figure 6 and. showing also the relative position of the motor within the housing. And Figure 9 is a detailed horizontal sectional 15 view corresponding tothe line 9-9 of Figure 6. In said drawings, the housing for the operating parts is indicated generally by the reference character H, the same being of generally boxlike form slightly tapered upwardly so as to present a pleasing appearance and having a sloping top portion 20 on which is fixedly mounted a suitable foot rest 2| and an upper horizontal removable top plate 22. In its rear wall, the housing H is provided with a removable panel 23 which is ordinarily locked in position by a suitable key look so as to prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the housing. Conveniently, the housing will have detachably supported thereon a suitable daubing brush 24 and on the exterior thereof is the polishing brush indicated generally by the. reference character P, the same being supported at the free end of a flexible armored cable 25 and sleeve 26 and containing threwithin a flexible shaft for rapidly rotating the polishing brush P, the cable andshaft extending through a suitable opening 21 in the front wall of the housing and the shaft being operably connected discharge orifice 3| at the top thereof through which the paste is adapted to be fed'into a cup- 50 shaped recess 32 at the'top, the recess 32 beingof a suitable size toreadily accommodate the daubing brush sothat the paste may be applied thereto and by the user thereafter applied to his shoes. Normally the paste receptacle is 55 cover or closure 33 which is pivoted as by the pivot 34 to ears integrally formed with the top plate 22. To minimize drying out of the paste, a sealing gasket 35 is preferably employed on the under side of the cover to provide an air sealwith the cylindrical rim 36.

The closure 33 is normally held in locked or closed position by means of an operating bar indicated generally by the reference character B which is pivoted at its upper end as indicated at 31 to a rearwardly and upwardly extended arm 38 of the closure, the pivotal connection being rendered inaccessible by means of a suitable hood 39 formed integrally with the top plate 22. Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that the bar B is provided with a shoulder 40 near its lower end which is normally seated on a fixed plate 4|, thus preventing downward movement of the bar and hence preventing opening of the closure 33. By suitable coin-controlled means, hereinafter described, the bar B is adapted to be retracted from its shoulder engagement with the plate 4| and pulled downwardly under the influence of a tensioned spring 42 connected at its upper end to the bar B as indicated at 43 and, at its lower end, to plate 4| at 44. Such retracted and lowered position of the bar B is indicated in Figure 7, in which condition of the bar B it will be obvious that the closure 33 will be thrown open to the dotted line position I33 indicated in Figure 3, thus permitting the user to obtain access to the paste to the amount desired.

To advance the feed of the paste within the container 30 so as to maintain a sufilcient supply at the top thereof, the following means are employed. Within the cylindrical container 30 is a piston 45 having threaded engagement with an operating screw 46 which is rotatably journalled at its lower end in the plate 4| by means of the collar 41, the screw being extended downwardly through the plate 4| and having secured thereto a ratchet wheel 48. To prevent rotation of the piston 45 while it is being moved up and down within the container 30, two guide rods 4343 may be employed disposed within the container and passing through suitable openings in the piston.

Oscillatably mounted on the lower extended shaft end I46 of the feed screw 46, is a lever 60 carrying a pawl 5| cooperable with the ratchet 48. The lever 5| has an enlarged opening accommodating the shaft I46 and is under the influence of a. tensioned spring 52 connected at one of its ends thereto and at its opposite end 53 to the plate 4|. By this construction, the pawl 5| is enabled to slip back over the ratchet. The lever 50 is provided with an extension I50, the latter co-acting with a projection 54 carried by the bar B at its lower end. When the bar B is in its normal locked position as shown in Figure 6, the projection 54 thereof occupies a position in line with the extension I50 of the pawl lever 50 thereby preventing oscillation of the lever 50 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9. When, however, the bar B is released and retracted as hereinbefore referred to and so as to assume the position shown in Figure 7, the projection 54' is removed out of the path of the extension I50, thereby permitting oscillation of the ratchet lever 50. The latter is adapted to be manually actuated by a hand plunger 55 extended to the exterior of the housing through the top plate 22, said plunger 55 having a suitable 2,078,124 closed against unauthorized access by means of a flexible connection 56 extending therefrom and which passes around an idler 51 and thence to the lever 50 to which it is connected as indicated at 58. By pulling up the plunger 55, it is apparent that the lever 50 will be oscillated in a clockwise direction so as to rotate the ratchet 48 which, in turn, rotates the feed screw 46 and thus advances the piston 45 upwardly to force the paste through the opening 3| and hence maintain the necessary supply as required from time to time. I

From the previous description, it will be seen that no one may obtain access to the paste nor may the feed' of the paste be advanced so long as the operating bar Bis in its normal locked condition. To release the latter, coin-controlled means are employed, one suitable form of which is disclosed in the drawings and best shown in detail in Figures 3, 4, and 5. In the cover plate 22 is provided the coin admission slot 53 through which the coin, one of which is indicated in dotted lines at 60 in Figure 4, is inserted into the coin chute 6|, which is of curved formation so as to prevent tampering with the release mechanism. The coin drops through the chute until it reaches the position indicated by dotted lines at I60 in Figure 4, where it comes to rest on one arm 62 of an actuating bell crank lever 63 pivoted at 64 and normally held in the position shown in Figure 4 by a suitable spring 65. At the same time, the

coin is resting against a spring finger 66 which is extended into the chute into the path of the coin. To actuate the bell crank lever 63, the coin is adapted to be pushed through the yieldable gate by means of a lever 61 having a finger 68 normally retracted from the chute into a position above the coin I60. Said lever 61, which is normally held in retracted position by a tension spring I68, has a rearwardly extending arm 69 which loosely engages through a yoke 10 carried at the lower end of another plunger 1|, the upper end of which has a knob 12 on the exterior of the cover plate 22. By pulling up the plunger 12, it is evident that the finger 68 will be depressed and, in turn, will engage the coin I60 and force it downwardly into the chute, the spring finger 66 yielding for this purpose and the arm 62 of the bell crank lever being depressed, which, in turn, swings the depending arm 13 of the bell crank lever toward the right, or counterclockwise, as evident in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures'4 and 5, it will be noted that the bell crank lever has a vertically elongated slot 14 therein with which is loosely engaged the free end 15 of another lever 16 pivoted to a bracket as indicated at 11. "The lever 16 is provided with a recess 18 through which loosely extends the bar B. Upon actuation of the coin device, it is evident that .the lever 16, as viewed in Figure 5, will be swung counterclockwise thus forcing the bar B toward the left as viewed in Figure 6, and ultimately disengaging the shoulder 40 from the plate 4| and permitting downward movement of the bar B under the tension of the spring 42. At its bottom, the bar B has a cam edge I63 which forces the bar to the rear as it descends and this in turn assures holding of the bell crank lever 63 retracted until ,the coin has dropped through the chute into. a suitable coin receptacle 260.

In the use of the present invention, it is intended that the usershall have as much time as desired for applying the paste to his shoes, after the coin has been deposited. After the paste has been applied to the shoes in sufiicient quantity and the user is then ready to polish his shoes, it is then desirable to start the polishing brush in motion but for only a predetermined length of time and simultaneously to render inaccessible any further amount of paste. To this end, the following control is employed for setting the motor M into action and to shut the same 011 after the predetermined interval of time.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2, 6, and 7, it will be noted that two switches are. employed which are included in the electric circuit for the motor. One of these switches is indicated generally at S and the other at W, both being adapted to cooperate with the bar B. The upper switch S, which is suitably mounted on a fixed bracket 88, is of the snap-over type having a fixed contact 8I and a spring governed movable contact 82, the'latter being carried by a lever to which is attached a leaf spring 83 that in turn is in the line of movement of a pin 84 carried by the bar B. In Figure 2, the switch S is shown in closed condition. The lower switch W, carried by the fixed plate H, is of similar type having a fixed contact I84 and a movable contact 85, the carrying lever of which is also provided with ,a spring arm 88 engageable with the rear edge of the bar B, as shown in Figure 6. Normally, after the machine has been used and before another coin has been inserted, the lower switch W will be in closed condition, as shown in Figure 6, and the upper switch S will be in open condition. When a coin is inserted and the bar B released and depressed to the position shown best in Figure 7, the initial retracting movement of the bar B, that is, the movement to the left while disengaging the shoulder 48 as illustrated by the change of positions from Figure 6 to that of Figure '7, the switch W is snapped over to an open position as shown in Figure 7. As the bar B then moves downwardly under the tension of the spring 42, the pin 84 engages the spring arm 83, depressing the latter and shifting the switch S to the closed position shown in Figure 2, So long as the bar B remains in its unlocked position, best shown in Figure 7, during which time the user has free access to the paste, it is evident that the circuit of the motor will be broken inasmuch as the two switches S and W are in series in the circuit and hence the motor is inoperable. During the depression of the switch spring finger 83 by the pin 84, the spring finger is sprung so as to engage under the arm 81 of a bell crank lever 88 pivoted at 88 and will be retained by the lever 88 in such position until released, as hereinafter described. When the user has completed daubing on of the paste, he then depresses the cover or closure of the paste container to the full line position shown in Figure 3, thus elevating the bar B and returning it to its locked position, at which time the spring finger ,88 of the lower switch will drop into the recess I89 of the bar B and close the lower switch, this action taking place only at the extreme upward movement of the bar B as the shoulder thereof engages over the plate 4|. As previously explained, the upper switch S remains in closed condition due to the latching thereof by the bell crank lever 88. Both switches now remain'closed and the circuit to the motor M is thereby completed and the motor started in operation and the brush P rotated.

To limit the useof the polishing brush P to a predetermined length of time, the motor has extended from the rotor thereof a flexible shaft 88 which is attached, by a coupling 8| to a shaft 82. The shaft 82 operates a train of reduction gear- 'of the final gear of the reduction gearing being extended to the exterior of the housing 83 and carrying a tripping element or cam 84 adapted to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. From the position of the tripping element 84 shown in Figure 2, the same will make a complete revolution upon a predetermined number of revolutions of the rotor of the motor and, as the trip element 84 completes its revolution, it will engage the spring finger 88 carried by the other arm of the bell crank 88, thus actuating the bell crank lever 88 in a counterclockwise direction, which, in turn releases the spring finger 83 and this, in turn, allows the snap-over switch to open and thus break the circuit and stop the motor.

The flexible shaft for the polishing brush P, instead of being directly connected to the rotor of the motor, is preferably operated through a suitable pulley 86 carried by the rotor shaft and from which runs a belt to a larger pulley (not shown) which in turn is directly connected to the flexible shaft, so as to reduce the speed of rotation.

To facilitate repairs and servicing of the machine, all of the parts within the housing, except the motor and plate I83 which carries the reduction gearing and lever 88, are united into a single removable unit fixedly attached to the cover plate 22. That is, the paste container, bar B. switches S and W and feeding device, are all rigidly associated with said cover plate 22 and the base plate 4|. The latter is detachably connected to the floor member 88 of the housing, by means of screws or other suitable devices 38 accessible only from the interior of the housing when the rear panel is off. Suitable tie bolts, not shown, may be employed between the base plate 4| and the cover plate 22, so that, upon removing of the screws 88 and detaching the plate I83 by removing screw 283, the entire unit may be lifted out of the housing after disconnecting the wire connections from the switches to the binding posts 81 which are also carried by the plate I83. The lead-in wires may preferably be entered through the rear of the housing, as indicated at I88 in Figure 2. I

Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the polishing brush P consists of two sections IM and I82 of different characteristics, that referenced I8I preferably being in the form of more or less stiff bristles and the portion I82 of suitable fabric pile bufllng material so that the user may first utilize the outer portion MI in the preliminary polishing and brushing down of the paste and the portion I82 for the final polishing and shining operation.

From the preceding description, it will be seen that the machine herein shown and described provides for an ample supply of polishing material; that the polishing material of paste may be kept in suitable condition: that unauthorized use of either the supply of paste or of the polishing brush is prevented; that the polishing brush cannot be utilized while the paste is accessible and, vice versa, access to the paste is prevented during the use of the brush; that the period of operation of the motor and brush maybe regulated to only such length of time as is found necessary for the average user tocompiete the polishing, thereby minimizing the amount of power required; and that .the polishing brush,

on account of its flexible mounting, may be util zed to its utmost efficiency to polish all parts the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a receptacle having a normally closed closure for a supply of polishing material; of polishing means; power means for operating said polishing means; and coin-controlled means, common to said receptacle and power means, for initially releasing said closure to the'receptacle and, upon reclosing of the closure, then rendering operative said power means for operating the polishing means.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a receptacle having a normally closed closure for a supply of polishing material; of polishing means; power means for operating said polishing means; coin-controlled means, common to said receptacle and power means, for initially releasing said closure to the receptacle and, upon reclosing of the closure, then rendering operative said power means for operating the polishing means; and additional means for thereafter rendering said power means inoperative.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a sealed housing; of an electric motor therein; a polishing brush exterior of the housing carried by a flexible shaft driven by said motor; a container for polishing material in the housing; a closure for said container which, when open, permits access to the supply of material; means within the housing for opening and closing the circuit for said motor; means on the interior of the housln'g'for locking said closure in closed position; means for releasing said locking means; and means, cooperable with said locking means for actuating said circuit opening and closing means.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a housing having a container therein for a supply of polishing material; of a closure for said container; means for locking said closure in closed position; means, accessible for operation on the exterior of the housing, for feeding the material in said container; means on the interior of the housing for locking said feeding means; and coin-controlled means for simultaneously releasing both said closure locking means and feeding locking means.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a-closed housing; of a polishing brush external to the housing; an electric motor within the housing having a drive extending therefrom to the brush for operating the latter;

an electric circuit'for said motor having a switch included therein; a container for a supply of polishing material; means, manually operable from the exterior of' the housing, for feeding of the polishing material within the container; means normally locking said feeding means; and 'coincontrolled means for actuating said switch and releasing said locking means.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a housing; of a container therein for polishing material; means for feeding said material within said container; 9, polishing brush external to the housing; an electric motor within the housing having a driving connection extending therefrom to the brush; an electric circuit for said motor having a switch included therein; means normally locking said feeding means; coincontrolled means initially operative to release saidlocking means and thereafter to close said switch; and additional means for opening said switch after a predetermined time interval.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a housing; of a container therein for'polishing material; means for feeding said material within said container; 19. polishing brush external to the housing; an electric motor within the housing having a driving connection extending therefrom to the brush; an electric circuit for said motor having a switch included therein; means normally locking said feeding means; coincontrolled means initially operative to release said locking means and thereafter to close said switch; and time controlled means for subsequently reopening said switch, said last named means, in-

cluding a switch tripping element driven from the motor.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a closed housing; of an electric motor within the housing; a flexible shaft driven from said motor and extending through a wall of the housing to the exterior thereof and having a rotary brush at the end thereof; an electric circuit for said motor having two switches included therein; an actuating bar common to both of said switches, said bar when actuated in one direction being adapted to close one of said switches and open the other and, when retracted, to close the last-named switch and leave the first named switch closed; coin-controlled means for releasing said operating bar to permit actuation thereof;

and tripping means for said first named switch to open the latter after a predetermined interval,- said tripping means being driven from the motor.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a closed housing; of adispensing container disposed within the housing and having an outlet at the top thereof; a pivoted closure at the top of said container which, when closed, prevents access to the discharge end of the container; an actuating bar operatively connected to the closure and disposed within the housing, said bar being normally locked against movement; coin-controlled means for releasing said bar and to thereby permit opening of the closure for access to the discharge end of the container; an electric motor'within the housing; a flexible shaft driven by said motor and extending to the exterior of the housing and adapted to actuate a device such as a brush; and an electric circuit for said motor having means included therein for making and breaking the circuit, said operating bar being operatively associated with said circuit making and breaking means to complete making of the circuit after the actuating bar has been released and returned to its locked position.

10. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a closed housing; of a paste container disposed within the housing and having an outlet at the top thereof; a pivoted closure at the top of said container which, when closed, prevents access to the discharge end of the container; an actuating bar operatively connected to the closure and disposed within the housing, said bar being normally locked against movement; coin-controlled means for releasing said bar and to thereby permit opening of the closurefor access to the polishing material; an

electric motor within the housing; a flexible shaft driven by said motor and extending to the exterior of the housing and having a polishing brush thereon at its free end; an electric circuit for said motor having means included therein for making and breaking the circuit, said operating bar being operatively associated with said circuit making and breaking means to complete making of the circuit after the actuating bar has been released and returned to its locked position; and tripping means, actuated from the motor, for breaking the circuit after a predetermined period of operation of the motor.

11. A machine including, in combination: a

dispensing device having a closure to prevent and permit access to the material to be dispensed therefrom; an electric motor having driving 4 means for operating an implement; an electric circuit for said motor having included therein means for opening and closing the circuit; and controllable means for normally but releasably locking saidclosure, said controllable means being cooperable with said means for opening and closing the electric circuit, said controllable means, after releasing the closure and upon relocking of the latter, effecting closing of said circuit.

CARLYLE B. STAIR. 

